11.

Not being one hundred percent sure with her own intentions, Ellie makes her way to that game she had been invited to come watch. Is she interested in Steve? Or curious perhaps to see how the game goes? Maybe curious to see how good a player Steve may be? Ellie knows next to nothing about football, yet she is more than compelled to go see what it is all about.

The game had begun already by the time Ellie arrived. She dodges people until she can find a spot to sit in. She can't help but think that there must be something about this football malarkey for the place is packed. It's so unlike any other time she has been here, her usual space to herself has been traded in for a tin can sensation the likes what she would imagine a packed away sardine would feel if it could feel. There indeed is one heck of a turn out, students from the schools of both home and opposing teams have turned out in droves. Ellie being Ellie still had no trouble finding herself a spot to become a sardine in.

What Ellie has been able to find out about this particular game is that it is a cup match, meaning that the winners go onto the next round while the losing side go out of the competition.

Steve, you could say, was more than a little distracted right from the moment he came out onto the field. He looked from where he came onto the field, searching the stands for Ellie, he could not make out if she was there or not and he did not see her arrival. the place being so packed it would be difficult to pick any one person out. Sure anyway, the game was underway at the moment she did arrive, not that Steve could know any difference.

Being so distracted once the game had begun, he loses out on an early tackle, something which is very unlike Steve. Such a moment warrants a comment from a teammate.

'C'mon man, get your head in the game.'

With Steve being team captain, it is usually he who hands out such statements. Ellie watches unmoved from her position in the crowd while those around her are either cheering or dishing out jeers, some coming out in song, for the opposing side. It all definitely does look like a right load of malarkey.

The first half of this game is fairly uneventful and both teams go in still level at no score. Queen bee and her cheerleading team put on a half time show. Now Ellie is not one to wish for bad things to happen to others but if things were to go wrong and if queen bee were to be made a fool of, well ... Ellie might just have a laugh at the queen's expense. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, the performance is flawless, and it does hold the attention of at least a large number of those in attendance.

'You weren't yourself out there Steve in that half, what's going on?' asks the home team manager.

'He's in love boss ...' calls out a teammate.

'Shut it you' responds Steve throwing a towel at he who had just spoke before him.

'He invited a girl to come see the game ...'

'I don't care what he did, or anyone else for that matter. We have a game to win here, got it.'

'Yes boss' speaks Steve.

'What's that?'

'YES BOSS' responds the team as a whole.

Indeed, Steve has his game face on for the second half. It is not long before he is having things his way. Playing off from a one-two returning pass, Steve takes a shot early on and scores himself a goal. His team take the lead and the home support, as they say, go nuts and that includes Ellie, it seems as if she is getting into this malarkey after all.

She stands, calls out a 'yes' as soon as the goal is score and also punches the air. Just to make sure, she asks the person to her right as to if she done right and the response was a yes, as her reaction was spot on for someone who is a supporter of the home team. After having scored his goal Steve runs towards the home crowd in celebration and it is at this point that he does see Ellie. He points up towards her and gives a 'thumbs up'. She smiles as Steve's team mates join in the celebrations.

The games ends as a home win and Ellie remains in the stand as those around her prepare to head away. After having changed and celebrated with his team, Steve is back out on the field feeling grateful for the opportunities he has had. Of course, it is not long before he sees Ellie and indeed he wants to go to her.

'You sure that is a good idea?' asks Mike, one of Steve's buddies.

'I think so yeah.'

'What about, well you know who?'

'I can't let that stop me moving on.'

Pretty soon Steve is right with Ellie.

'So, you came' he says.

'Yes, I did, if I hadn't then we would not be talking right now.'

Ellie had spoken so straight forwardly and so seriously that it took Steve a few seconds to realize that she was having a laugh. The dead giveaway was that she had smiled a few seconds after having spoken.

'You got me ... my bad. So hey, what did you think?'

'Surprisingly, I had fun.'

'You did'

'Yeah ... I did.'

There are still one or two dozen stragglers walking about. Steve sees this so he makes a suggestion.

'I am going to head up towards the yard, what would you say about taking a walk with me?'

Ellie pauses for a moment with a 'hummm'.

'You are messing with me again?'

Ellie smiles and holds out a hand. Steve then smiles, takes her hand and fairly soon the two are walking towards the yard. The walk is pleasant and hardly a word is spoken. The pace is not too quick and not too slow. By the time the yard has indeed been reached there is not a soul in sight other than the two who have taken this walk. It is Steve who breaks the not so uncomfortable silence.

'You know I like you, right?'

Ellie smiles and considers her response.

'Yeah, I kinda gathered that ...' she says while trying unsuccessfully not to fidget.

Are Ellie and Steve about to have a moment?

'No ... no, no' says Judy to herself as she follows that book of hers. 'This is not going to happen.'

Her hazel eyes search as she stares deep into his blue eyes, Ellie knows she could easily lose herself in this moment. Steve is a handsome guy, well built, captain of the college football team, and he is the general of popularity.

He could be anywhere and with anyone he wanted at this particular moment in time, so Ellie could not quite believe that Steve wanted to spend this precise moment with her, despite showing a previous lack of interest that doesn't actually exist.

Just as he leaned in to kiss her and waits for her to respond, a loud shout of NO echoes out around the yard that Steve and Ellie stood alone in.

'What?' Steve asks.

'That was not me' replies Ellie after briefly looking around.

'Well, if that wasn't you then who was it? We are the only two standing here ...'